Seattle is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts for a reason, and scenic drives, pristine lakes and miles of hiking trails aren't more than a few hours away. If you're looking to get outside this weekend (or next, or even Labor Day), scroll through the slideshow above to see our favorite spots to go to when we want to get away from it all.

After all, Pike Place is still going to probably be overrun by tourists when you get back.

Feel like we missed a favorite of yours? Share it in the comments.

SeattlePI reporter Zosha Millman can be reached at zoshamillman@seattlepi.com. Follow Zosha on Twitter at @zosham. Find more from Zosha here on her author page.